177 – A Tech and Learning Goldmine

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we review Tech & Learning magazine and talk with Rachel Malkuch about using tech tools for student evaluation.

The discussion:

A magazine for today’s teachers – Teacher Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI makes her once-a-month guest appearance on WELSTech and joins Martin and Sallie in a discussion of the online and print magazine Tech & Learning.

The interview:

Rachel Malkuch(19:55) Alternative assessment with technology – Teacher Rachel Malkuch (aleixa on Twitter and blogger at Learn for a Lifetime) from Trinity in Waukesha, WI chats with Sallie about her recent presentation to the Milwaukee-Metro Teachers’ Conference on the use of Technology as means of Alternate Assessment.

Ministry resources:

(34:16) Release of the Glo Bible for Mac and iPad – Watch the iPad demo

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(45:21) FinalWeb Training in New Ulm, MN and Milwaukee, WI

  • FinalWeb for Teachers in New Ulm on June 27 and Milwaukee on August 1 – bit.ly/fw4teachers
  • FinalWeb for Dummies in New Ulm June 28-30 and Milwaukee August 2-4 – bit.ly/fw4dummies

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(55:43) Episode 178 – A month of “April Showers” await WELSTech listeners, and first up is a shower of webmaster resources.  (Release date – 04/06/11)

The featured artist:

(56:51) We close the podcast with the music of Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – Blessed is The One from his CD titled “Undefined”

Get involved:

176 – Uh, I Forgot

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we explore memorization tools and learn about the new STEM Academy at Fox Valley Lutheran High School.

The discussion:

Memorization tools – ‘Tis the season for confirmation examination, and what better time for Martin and Sallie to take an in-depth look at the variety of techie helps for memorization.

The interview:

Alan Nolte(10:56) STEM at FVL – Academic Assistant Principal Alan Nolte talks with Martin about Fox Valley Lutheran High School’s new STEM Academy.  STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and through this new program FVL will be offering students the opportunity to take specialized courses in these fields over their high school years.

Ministry resources:

(26:22) Why churches and Christian groups should use mobile QR codes

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(38:04) FinalWeb Training in New Ulm, MN and Milwaukee, WI

  • FinalWeb for Teachers in New Ulm on June 27 and Milwaukee on August 1 – bit.ly/fw4teachers
  • FinalWeb for Dummies in New Ulm June 28-30 and Milwaukee August 2-4 – bit.ly/fw4dummies

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(46:55) Episode 177 – Gail Potratz joins Martin and Sallie to share her unique edtech experience. (Release date – 03/30/11)

The featured artist:

(47:10) We close the podcast with the music of Cross To Glory – Thy Will Be Done from their CD titled “Life’s Song”

Get involved:

175 – Office 2010

This week on the WELSTech Podcast Microsoft Office and Staff Minister Dan Schoeffel share center stage.

The discussion:

Is your office a Microsoft Office? – Martin and Sallie discuss the “mature” Microsoft Office suite and share links to a robust list of support resources.

The interview:

Dan Schoeffel(16:08) Tech Solutions – Staff Minister Dan Schoeffel from St. Paul’s in Onalaska, WI talks with Martin and Sallie about the various hardware and software solutions that have been implemented in his congregation and school.  From scrolling announcements in the church narthex to innovative time keeping to wise stewardship of hardware, St. Paul’s has their tech bases covered.

Ministry resources:

(32:22) Free introductory online course from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary

News in tech:

(34:10) iPad 2 Reviews from Cnet

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(40:35) FinalWeb Training in New Ulm, MN and Milwaukee, WI

  • FinalWeb for Teachers in New Ulm on June 27 and Milwaukee on August 1 – bit.ly/fw4teachers
  • FinalWeb for Dummies in New Ulm June 28-30 and Milwaukee August 2-4 – bit.ly/fw4dummies

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(50:38) Episode 176 – Alan Nolte from Fox Valley Lutheran High School shares news of their upcoming STEM Academy, and we review techie aids for memorization. (Release date – 03/23/11)

The featured artist:

(51:21) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say from their CD titled “In His Time”

Get involved:

174 – Revisiting WhatAboutJesus.com

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we return to our book discussion and take a closer look at techie outreach resources.

The discussion:

Communication for School Leaders – Listen as Martin and Sallie discuss Chapter 7 of Leading 21st Century Schools which covers tech-based ideas for school leaders to engage parents, alumni, school boards and other “stakeholders” in education initiatives.

Ministry resources:

What About Jesus(13:51) WhatAboutJesus.com – Access and share outreach oriented resources covering questions about Jesus and God, life concerns, introduction to worship, worship helps and much more.

News in tech:

(19:08) iPad2 announcement – Recently Joshua Johnson from Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School posted a question on the WELSTech Facebook page looking for 1 to 1 computing recommendations.  If you are considering iPads for 1 to 1 computing in your school, check out these resources:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(28:23) FinalWeb Training in New Ulm, MN and Milwaukee, WI

  • FinalWeb for Teachers in New Ulm on June 27 and Milwaukee on August 1 – bit.ly/fw4teachers
  • FinalWeb for Dummies in New Ulm June 28-30 and Milwaukee August 2-4 – bit.ly/fw4dummies

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(46:03) Episode 175 – The Microsoft Office tool set is the discussion topic of the day, and Staff Minister Dan Schoeffel shares his tech favorites. (Release date – 03/16/11)

The featured artist:

(47:20) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek  – Psalm 13 from their CD titled ”Could It Be Me”

Get involved:

173 – Is Facebook For You?

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we look at examples of WELS congregation’s Facebook pages .

The discussion:

Facebook pages – A question from Cindie Walker about the new facebook page for Cross of Life in Mississauga, Ontario was the spark for Martin and Sallie’s discussion today.  Adding a Facebook page to your communication strategy provides a platform for sharing events, announcements and audio/video content, and it also allows members to easily practice “lifestyle evangelism”.

Interview:

Facebook WELS Lutherans(23:45) WELS on Facebook – Alicia Neumann from WELS Communication Services talks with Martin and Sallie about the content and maintenance of WELS official Facebook presence – facebook.com/welslutherans.

Ministry resources:

(38:44) TableProject.org – a private social platform for churches

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(55:56) Episode 174 – We discuss school administration communication, the focus of Chapter 7 of our current book selection, Leading 21st Century Schools. (Release date – 03/09/11)

The featured artist:

(56:43) We close the podcast with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com and on Facebook) – The One from his CD titled ”Fuel For The Soul”

Get involved: